February 2010: Babies have started arriving...

[woowa]

and here we are...who'll be next?

This is getting really exciting now!! Congratulations T4 wonderful news! Hope you are both doing well!?! Hope everyone is feeling well despite backache, swollen ankles, tiredness and getting fed up with people asking daily if baby has arrived yet etc!! Hows the ankle mawbroon??
Just wondering if any1 else is still taking asprin daily, i was put on it at 6wks due to previous lose. I saw my cons at 26wks who said to stay on it till end, i then ended up seeing her registra last week who said to come off as was only on due to blood pressure, i told her this was not the case an to please ask cons, she left the room for all of 3mins and came back and told me to come off. I'm not convinced she spoke to cons!! I've tried calling my prev cons who put me on asprin but haven;t heard from him as yet!! When i spoke to my GP she told me to stay on until i speak to orginal cons. Just a bit confused an wondered if any1 else was still taking theirs. I'll be 39wks on tues. Will obs have to start calling round on monday just i case i do need to stop.

Sorry for long post.

Dee if I were you, I will carry on with the aspirin until I spoke with your consultant.

Hi Ladies,

How is everyone?? I see that we have our 1st baby, congratulations T4

I haven't been on for ages, been VERY busy but now that i'm on maternity leave I can re join the chat.

I had a scan last night as I have had a problem with irratic blood pressure and baby was measuring HUGE! baby is all good she's already 6lb 5oz but Dr said that this is average so all is good.

Speak to you all soon x

I thought I'll give an update. Nothing more has happened, I think my body is just getting ready but it's bloody uncomfortable!

Oh, GF I was just getting ready to get excited for you! Hope you find a way to minimise the discomfort. When I had excruciating back pain over Christmas, hot baths were the only thing that helped.

Dee I agree with GF you should carry on with the aspirin until you've spoken to the consultant yourself.

Becks my baby measured 5lb at 35w from a scan so if s/he's putting on the expected half pound per week, is now 6.5lb at 38w. But I've heard that the weight estimates from the scans can be VERY inaccurate so I'm trying not to get too worried that it'll be too huge if I go overdue...

This is a TMI question, but has anyone else been experiencing um loose bowels? I have for about a fortnight now on and off, at first I thought it must have been something I ate but it's so recurrent it can't be. And I often wake up with a tummy ache. I'm not worried, it's just a bit - annoying...

Dee I have been on aspirin for dopplers since 22 weeks and was told by cons to stop taking them at 36 weeks as there is no benefit by then, think that's the only issue, hope that helps.

Thank you all for the supportive and positive comments on induction & small/early babies, so heartening. I am now feeling a bit of a baby myself for getting so worried. Have sorted out arrangements for my DD and now able to focus on the birth, even getting a bit excited, not before doing a mad dash around Matalan for tiny baby-gros though! I'm booked in for acupuncture the night before the induction too so fingers crossed it kicks things off and I don't have to end up on the oxytocin drip..

Good luck all x

PS I have hired a breast pump from Medela using their website, it's £40 for 14 days and they courier it to you the next day, in case anyone wondering, they start at £80 new.

Also beware the dangers of leaving something in the oven while on MN. Just burnt lots of quiches I was cooking for my DDs lunches while I'm in hospital, doh.

Don't worry about size of baby becks130. I had a scan on Thursday and mine already weighs 7lb2oz (at 38 weeks). Apparently this only puts him on the 55th percentile for weight. His head is on the 97th percentile, now THAT I am worried about!

fiziwizzle yes to the loose bowels. Have had this all day. It can be a sign of imminent labour you know.

I feel like I have hit a brick wall today. Yesterday I was fine and full of energy. Today I feel like my bump is ridiculously stretched, I am so tired I am crawling upstairs on my hands and knees and standing in that pregnant woman way, with your hips pushed forward, that gives you a bad back. I think your body does this to you so you actually look forward to labour.

I think it is time we had another baby announcement. Come on ladies...!

Can I claim the biggest measurement for dates so far then? I measured at 7lbs 1oz at 35+5 on Monday?! My DS1 was 7lbs 13.5oz when born at 39 weeks as a first, so the midwife just said, "Well, you know it's going to be big then don't you?!" I'm just not worrying about it - last time DS measured bigger than he was so assuming the same again and will deal with any consequences after!!

Make sure you find out about the ladies' physio at your hospital as they are well worth knowing about and work miracles in my hospital. I won't give you any more detail but first timers just need to know they exist! (and I hope they are in every hospital?)

Have packed bags tonight so feel more organised which is nice. DS1 has been coughing pretty much non-stop for the last two nights which has been a killer on the tiredness front. Think the baby is bound to make an appearance in the middle of that kind of scenario, when I'm hoping it will wait till things with DS1 are running more smoothly again.

Hope you are all okay and the weekend sees final preparations being put in place before our next batch of arrivals. Look forward to hearing exciting news...

fizi tbh i wish i had that issue, i happen to be the opposite, and with bump stretched to [what feels like its limit] anything ah em extra is extremely uncomfortable

does anyone have any good suggestions for baby monitors? not bought one yet, thinking i am cutting it close. im not looking for one with all the bells and whistles, just one with a decent range and is good, TYIA

Sounds like the February babies are going to be a particularly bouncing bunch! Watery eyes all round - yikes for chinook at head measurement!!

Had a bit of a "moment" late on Friday night, legs and ankles suddenly went from mildly puffy to cabbage patch doll-like and fingers swelled up too, read what my pg book had to say on the subject and thought i'd perhaps better give the labour ward a call for advice. The woman I spoke to there asked me what I'd been doing all day - whan I said i'd just had a normal working day (sat at desk), she said stroppily "well that's why your legs are puffy then, you should be at home with your feet up at 37 weeks - not working" I was like WTF?! How dare she preach like that without knowing my circumstances?! Grrrr! Anyway, the swelling went down a bit overnight, but is beginning to return this evening, so looks like it'll just be one of those things - luckily am seeing MW on Monday. God i've turned into a right moaning minnie - sorry...!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend - swilling raspberry leaf tea, scoffing curry and bouncing away on their birthing balls!

Fluffycoo at the money saving! Glad I am famous for something.
That woman on the labour ward does sound a bit out of order!

I used some reusable breast pads last time, I think they were boots own brand, but I wasn't massively impressed with them, plus they clogged up the washing machine a couple of times, turns out you are meant to use the little wash bag they come with . If anyone has any tips for decent washable ones I'd be interested.

I've found trying my hardest to stay awake all day is helping a bit with getting a better nights sleep.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

fizi - (don't read if you are of a nervous disposition) yes I am in the same boat as you! My midwife suggested I come off the iron tabs so that I would be a bit, um, looser going into labour, which would ease some discomfort and I seem to have gone the other way. I wondered if the raspberry leaf tea had anything to do with it, as the -sorry TMI ALERT- colour is strange (orange!!) I also have the odd cramp and wave of nausea, but nothing to make me worry, really.

Serious apologies for that, hope no-one read while eating their breakfast.

I am finding tiredness so much worse if I let myself get too tired - the more I do, the less I sleep - so if I need a nap I take one. FIL is coming to see us today and he and DH want to go for lunch in Paris followed by an art exhibition. I just want to stay at home and not move! I haven't told DH yet that I'm not going, but we had a really late night last night at friends for dinner and I am knackered today, plus FIL, as nice as he is, does tend to patronise me A LOT and a whole day with him when I am feeling a bit tired and wobbly, could just push me over the edge.

My own mother is thinking of coming over next weekend too, which is really nice, as she will either be here for ages or have to make two trips (she lives in another country), but DH is going away for the day on Sunday and I am feeling more and more hormonal and the idea that he will be six hours drive away (and my close friends in the area are all away next weekend) when I am 39w is sort of scaring me.

Hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday - wonder if anyone's got a birth announcement for us?!!

Flyingcloud is your DH going away with work!! I would be scared too if DH was going to be 6 hours away this close.
My DH is on a one can rule if he wants a drink until the baby has come now..
At my last scan the baby weighed 2830g but which is about 6lb 3oz but the measurements also have a + or - 700g which is a really big range so at the momnet I am looking between 5lb and 7lb.. I reckon the baby will be about 6lb7oz to 7lb when he arrives.

Still getting lots of bearing down movements from him.

Sorry if TMI but have developed piles.. which are really painful and HUGE.. using cream constantly but to no avaqil and everytime I move in my sleep I wake up with the discomfort.

Fizwizzle and Chiunook.. I had really loose bowls yesterday too.. but TBH but that down to the full pineapple I ate on friday night.
Also had really strong braxton hicks Friday night every hour painful enough to wake me up and make me have a little walk round. But again I hate eaten the full pineapple and we had sex!! Maybe next time Ill go for 2 pineapples and sex and see what happens....LOL.
37weeks today ...

Have also been wondering if we have anymore birth announcements..

Thanks 3+1 and Shiregirl - humouring my little temperamental foibles! DH and FIL have just left, phew. FIL was just going on and on about how they are all waiting for the baby to arrive now... I don't need to describe how annoying that is at this stage. A day out in Paris would be lovely, but I would rather DH went off and enjoyed himself with his FIL than had to put up with me wanting to pee every five minutes and complaining of back-ache,etc, as well as being resentful of FIL's patronising.

ThreeplusOne he's going away next week for FIL's 60th bday - I have always said he can go if he wants as I didn't want to put pressure on him either way. It's only for the day. He is taking the train which makes the journey shorter, but could make it harder to get back in a hurry. They were slightly suggesting just now that I should make the effort and go too, so having my mother here will be a wonderful excuse to not go.

I too have been eating pineapple and pestering DH.

Shiregirl - good idea to take your DH shopping with you. I think I might do that on Monday, as I can't trust him to stay within budget and buy vaguely nutritious food. The freezer is fully stocked though in case of emergency.

Right going to take the dogs for a walk so I can clear my head and spend the rest of the day on the sofa with a clear conscience.

fizzi, chinook and co - yup, me too. I'm just putting it down to pregnancy hormones and their effect on my GI system. S'not uncomfortable, though.

If you're feeling a bit bloaty and tummy-achey with it, fizz, maybe think about the things you've been eating lately and whether they're giving you a bit more fibre than your digestion can easily deal with at the moment. Dried fruit? Beans? that kind of thing?

I must say, I'd rather have this problem than the bloody horrendous acid reflux...thankfully mine seems to have subsided for the moment (and cutting back on starchy foods seems to have helped there, too)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, ladies!

I have to say that I would rather have looser bowels than be constipated - I seem to range from one to other and when I'm bunged up it gives me piles which are horrible. I have started on some different vitamins and they are higher in iron so I wonder whether that is causing me to be bunged up - I'm eating lots of wholemeal bread etc to counteract it!

Don't worry too much about baby size - they are often wrong (I keep reminding myself of this!!).
My first was 7lb 13.5oz and my second 8lb 11oz and both were delivered in the water with no pain relief and no tearing so weight is no reflection on ease of labour!! Saying that however they are forecasting at least 9lb for this one which is making my eyes water thinking about it - so hoping this is one of those times when they get it wrong!

Am I the only one who's not in any hurry to have this baby?? I know I'm huge and uncomfortable but the baby is so much easier to look after inside than out. Not counting the whole unpleasant labour experience - The immediate period after the birth is such an awkward time frame (for me anyway) - horrible lochia for weeks, bruised undercarriage that makes it painful just to sit up in bed and feed at night, ginormous achy norks and sore nipples, night sweats, leaky boobs, no sleep - and waking for feeds is much harder than toilet trips while pregnant, constant nappy changing - at least 8-10 times a day etc etc.

Sorry if I sound doom and gloom - I don't mean to be - but add into this mix a 4 yr old and 2.5 yr old and it's hard work!!

I'm happy to wait until this baby is good and ready to come - if I go overdue I'll be annoyed as want to avoid induction but that's it!

My Mum is arriving mid next week to stay until after the birth so looking forward to the help but not the intrusion of having someone to stay all the time. But I know it'll make my life easier with the girls.

Who's due next? Only a week to go until we're at the end of Jan! I've got 9 days until my due date but there must be someone who'll pop before me.

xxx

galgdriel77 - no, you are not alone. I am in no hurry whatsoever to get this baby out. I am enjoying reasonable sleep at the moment and am not looking forward to the sleep deprivation again - even though we will be cosleeping from the word go. There are so many unknowns for me too - will I still be in plaster, will I be just out of plaster and my ankle strong enough to stand on? Will I labour, or will I need a c section? etc etc. There are too many possibilities to think about and going 20 weeks overdue would be a very good solution to them all

I had very little patience with 4yo ds after my ankle surgery. I couldn't stand the noise and his constant need to be with me. Then I felt bad for narking at him (he's only 4 and his world just got turned upside down) and I know I will probably feel the same once baby arrives, and I have to be so careful about making ds feel included. This will probably mean nursing him x 100 every day which I imagine might get a bit irritating.

I have just made a list of things for my hospital bag, and things that I need out of the loft. It doesn't seem like much! But I can't think that there's anything else that I really need. I know that if I turned up at hospital with nothing, then things would still work out fine!!

Re the bowels, I have a bit of a dodgy tummy today, but I think it was the copious quantity of chilli sauce that I put on my burger last night, because it was a bit burny on the way out. DS has a slight temp and dodgy poo though, so I hope I am not about to catch anything. Crutches and a bump are enough thanks, without adding D and/or V to the mix....

lol at all the loose bowelled women. Mine are too! Everytime I hope it's the body preparing for labour, but doesn't seem to be so far. Also woke with stomach cramp in the night, but that doesn't seem to have been labour either!! Sigh. We'll just continue to wait. Can't be long before someone else pops though - perhaps one of you is popping as we speak...

Hi girls,
Thought I'll post an update. I'm still here but getting stronger backaches and period like cramps.
My problem is that I don't know if those cramps are contractions or BH!
I also have loose bowel to add to my list but this may be due to the daily glass of prune juice.
I still haven't call the mw for advices, I'll wait and see what happen later on. I'm due to see the obstetrician on Tuesday anyway.

Have a good relaxing Sunday

I agree with you Galadriel and Mawbroon: I am in no hurry either! I feel a little strange when I read up about all those (normal) impatient ladies walking miles, eating pineapple, curry, etc. as I have no desire to get things started yet. Monday and Tuesday are big days for us as our almost 6 yr old DS is performing in his first music show - with a general rehearsal on Monday evening - and I just don't want to miss it.

I am 40 weeks + 2. My due date here in France is 30 January. It's so frightening EXCITING! Both my DC arrive 1 or 2 days after their EDD so in 8 days ..... it'll all be over!!!!

Mawbroon I share your feelings of irritation towards concerning the constant noise and your DS's constant need for you. I just don't have my usual patience and find, infact, that I crave peace and quiet. My DH works Saturdays so I decided today I would do the bare minimum ..... and ended up napping for 2-3 hours. Bliss! I feel so much better for it.

MW apppointment at the hospital tomorrow. I need to ask her a few questions.....

A lovely evening to all.

Hi All
Who's been born so far? I'm so excited now!

Feeling a bit flappy at mo as I'm in hospital every 5 minutes with my none-straightforward baby

My growth scan is Thurs and I'll see the consultant for him to listen to her heart, etc.

Braxton hicks getting beyond belief, I'm 35+4 now- thought I'd gone into labour few days ago!

Is anyone panicking a bit yet?

Those due on or around 24th Feb, how are you feeling? Similar to me?

You experienced ladies... I wish I had your patience. You are putting us to shame. I just want my baby.

jardins hope you hold on until after the concert.

guernsey - call the midwife!!

hey ladies, sorry to seem like im pestering, but contractions, what exactly do they feel like? iv been getting severe pain in my lower abdo the last 2days, woke up this morning thinking i was in labour, but it passed, now all day today i have been aching and getting pains like period pains a couple of times an hour, sometimes to the point im in tears, but its not getting stronger or more frequent, just the same for hours on end....... as its my 1st, i'm getting worried about the slightest of things, and feel so silly for asking questions like this when some of your ladies have a lot worse things on your plate, but i'm so nervous and worried